PHS notches sweep over Lady Demons

March 21, 2005

By Dave Wagner

Sophomore pitchers Shareesa Nusser and Sasha Parker combined to strike out 30 Dexter batters and Portales High’s softball team cruised to 14-6 and 16-4 wins over the Lady Demons on Monday at the PHS softball field.
Nusser struck out 18 batters in the opener while also contributing three hits and three RBIs at the plate, including a two-run triple in the sixth.
Parker had 12 strikeouts in the five-inning, run-rule-shortened second game while going 2-for-2 at the plate.
Portales (5-3) scored in every inning of both games against the winless Lady Demons (0-6), highlighted by a 10-run first in the second game.
Shortstop Sabrina Villaneuva was 5-for-6 for the Lady Rams in the twin bill.
“I thought we hit the ball well,” PHS softball coach Robbie Crowley said. “When you have the hitters we have, it’s hard to adjust to slower pitching, but we adjusted pretty well.”
Nusser allowed six hits in the opener, with Dexter third baseman Sandra Delgado going 4-for-4 with a double, a triple and two RBIs.
“I thought she threw really well,” Crowley said. “She’s coming around, and so is Sasha.”
Portales broke a 2-2 tie with a four-run second, highlighted by Villaneuva’s RBI triple and Nusser’s run-scoring double.
Nusser said she and Parker are settling into the pitching role after the graduation last spring of four-year starter Kassandra Richards.
“I was a little nervous starting out this season,” she said. “But I think once we get going, we’re going to do pretty good.
Both hurlers had some control problems, but benefitted from the generous run support.
“I usually control the ball a little better,” Nusser said. “I threw a lot of fastballs this time and not so many screwballs and changeups.”
Danielle Vasquez also went 2-for-2 in the opener with two walks, three runs scored and an RBI. Six of the Lady Rams’ 11 hits went for extra bases, including four triples.
In the second game, PHS’ first nine batters reached base safely and scored. The 10-run inning included six walks, two Dexter errors and just three hits.
Villaneuva’s two-run double highlighted the inning.
The Lady Rams will be in Dexter this weekend for the second annual Lindsey Callaway tournament. Their first-round opponent is Jal in a 10:30 a.m. game on Thursday.